If you read the blog yesterday, you know that I’m pushing for a Hagel-Huckabee Republican ticket. I think it makes a ton of sense for the conservative base, but it also sounds awesome and has a great odd couple feel to it. But these two have a lot of work to do if they’re going make my wishes come true. Huckabee’s working on it; he’s got an interview in Newsweek that should increase his name recognition a little bit.
Here’s a tidbit that should be familiar to regular MoJoBlog readers:
Q: What do you make of candidates like Giuliani, Romney and McCain — all of whom have moved to the right on social issues?
A: The first thing is: imitation is the most serious form of flattery. Some are having a late adult moment to come to a position I’ve held since I’ve been a teenager. Voters will have to determine if they’re seeing the politics of conviction or convenience.
ZING! Huckabee comes out swinging!
He’s going to have to work on his global warming talking points, though. First of all, he’s got to do some research. You’ll see what I mean below. Second of all, he’s got to respond to questions like this with a little more clarity.
Q: But do you believe there’s a human role in climate change?
A: There may be. But whether there is or there isn’t, it doesn’t release us from the responsibility to be good stewards of the environment. It’s the old boy scout rule: you leave your campsite in as good or better shape than how you found it. It’s a spiritual issue. [The earth] belongs to God. I have no right to destroy it. I think we work toward alternative energy sources. [We need to make it] like the Manhattan Project or going to the moon. We need to accelerate our energy independence.
Maybe this response is about Huckabee having his cake and eating it too. He wants to appeal to the (crazy and uninformed) portion of the Republican base that still doesn’t believe global warming exists and resents the growing Al Gore-led environmentalist crowd that screams bloody murder over the issue (and demands lifestyle changes from them). At the same time, he also wants to appeal to the new and growing green evangelical movement. Whatever the case may be, as the campaign goes along Huckabee’s going to have to make that response a more elegant one.
There’s also a moment in the interview when Huckabee won’t say whether or not he supports letting women preach in Christian churches and a heartfelt plea about retaining music and art programs in schools. And a series of questions about how fat he used to be. So, uh, yeah, there’s lots of work to be done on Huckabee ’08. How about some vision, buddy? And how can you go through a five-page interview and not mention your life story, or anything about who you are as a person? C’mon, Huckabee! Don’t let me down!
